---
title: "Marquez: More than 20 races will be too much"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/08/04/marquez-20-races-will-much/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-08-04T07:19:12Z"
modified: "2017-08-04T07:19:45Z"
---

# Marquez: More than 20 races will be too much

In the wake of the news MotoGP will be heading to Finland in 2019, Honda’s Marc Marquez has expressed his desire to keep the calendar at 20 races.

The KymiRing in Finland agreed a long-mooted five-year deal with MotoGP owners Dorna this week, which will see grand prix motorcycle racing return to the country for the first time since 1982 in 2019.![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/08/Progetto-KymiRing.jpg)

With the Chang International Circuit in Thailand expected to join the calendar next season, many riders have expressed concern at the potential of a 20-race schedule.

When asked about it in the pre-event press conference for this weekend’s Czech Grand Prix, Sachsenring winner Marquez admitted 20 races a year was acceptable but any more would begin to cause problems.

“I think 20 is the limit,” he said.

“18 races is quite a lot already, 20 races will be two more. But then you need to manage well the testing and the racing.

“For example, Formula 1 has a lot of races but less testing; they test on a simulator, but we cannot do something like this.

“Two more races, on my side, we can accept but more than 20 will be too much.”

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/08/826033972.jpg)

Valentino Rossi echoed the championship leaders thoughts, the Yamaha rider also admitting that 20 races per season, while not desirable, will be manageable.

The Italian – who earlier in the year expressed his dislike for the circuit in Thailand – felt the most important aspect of an expanded calendar should be that the tracks remain enjoyable to ride and are of a standard befitting of MotoGP.

“I agree with Marc, in general I prefer to make race than test – it is more fun,” said Rossi.

“18 is already quite a lot. 20, we are at the limit, but it’s like this. I think we can manage.

“The important (thing) is we go in an interesting track, in a good track, a MotoGP level track, good to ride, and with good facilities and good asphalt and remain the championship to the high standard.”